The ancestors of the first families to use the name Lockeart lived in ancient Scotland in the kingdom of Dalriada. The name was then used as a nickname for a person who was brave. Lockeart is a nickname surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Nicknames form a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, and can refer directly or indirectly to one's personality, physical attributes, mannerisms, or even their habits of dress. The surname Lockeart comes from the words loc and hardy, which mean lock and brave or hardy.

Early Origins of the Lockeart family

The surname Lockeart was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where this distinguished family acquired the estates of Carnwath, Cleghorn, Birkhill, Kirktoun, and Leigh.

The Lockharts of Leigh (Lee) trace their descent from Sir Simon Locard whose name some claim was derived from the territorial name "de Loch Ard." The family estate was centered at Lee Castle, originally built c. 1272 and was expanded in the 19th century.

Sir Simon Locard accompanied Sir James Douglas on his expedition with the heart of Robert the Bruce, which after Douglas' death brought home from Spain and buried in Melrose Abbey. This incident was the reason of the Arms' "man's heart within a fetterlock."

Early History of the Lockeart family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lockeart research.Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1689, 1658, 1646, 1658, 1674, 1621, 1675, 1652, 1630, 1689, 1685, 1686 and are included under the topic Early Lockeart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lockeart Spelling Variations

In various documents Lockeart has been spelled Since medieval scribes still spelled according to sound, records from that era contain an enormous number of spelling variations. Lockhart, Lockhard, Locard, Lockard, Lockheart and many more.

Early Notables of the Lockeart family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family at this time was George Lockhart of Tarbrax (died 1658), Commissioner of Glasgow in the Parliament of Scotland (1646-1658); Sir James Lockhart of Lee (d. 1674), lord of the Court of Session, he held the judicial title Lord Lee; Sir William Lockhart of Lee (1621-1675)... Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lockeart Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lockeart family to Ireland

Some of the Lockeart family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 214 words (15 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lockeart family to the New World and Oceana

Many who arrived from Scotland settled along the east coast of North America in communities that would go on to become the backbones of the young nations of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many settlers who remained loyal to England went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Their descendants later began to recover the lost Scottish heritage through events such as the highland games that dot North America in the summer months. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Lockeart family emigrate to North America: Robert Lockhard settled in Virginia in 1777; Gaven Lockhart settled in east New Jersey in 1685; Robert Lockhart settled in New York in 1820; Hugh, Isaac, Janet, John, Nicholas, Robert Lockhart, all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..

The Lockeart Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.